engine and drivetrain Allow Me To Introduce Myself.

[Brandon Christ]

Hey everybody, new member and freshly minted 2002 owner. 1973, and this thing's impressively (and annoyingly) original. Right now, I'm trying to figure out what to go through this winter to get the car to a driver level.

 

While it goes down the road, startup is always an issue, regardless of whether the engine has any heat in it. If anything, it's harder to turn over when hot. I suspect the "water choke" (which I've never heard of before this) is the source of the problem. How hard would it be to convert to an electric unit? I have little experience with wiring, but I can work solder and would like to consider myself slightly above an idiot.

 

Another thing is electrical in general. Turns signals don't work, at all. No clicking noise or anything. No idea what that is, and I'd want to be able to give people less of an excuse for cutting me off. Windshield wipers work, but the controlling knob doesn't do anything; they only react to when I depress the washer stalk. If the car has reverse lights, they don't work either, but I'm hoping that's just bulbs.

 

Second thing is the obvious lack of bushings and shocks. I found Ireland Engineering, and was figuring on ordering their spring and sway bar kit, some Bilsteins and a bunch of the poly bushings. Reasonable, or overkill? This is going to be a special-day car, it doesn't need to do twelve hours in comfort, but I don't need my fillings rattled out either.

 

Last thing is hunting down rust. Rear quarters are bubbling at the edges, front fenders are fine, hood's got some bubbling and so do the rain gutters. Anywhere else major to look for or worry about? I've heard the rear strut towers can be bad, but the inside of the trunk looks just fine.

 

Any other suggestions, critique, and such are more than welcome. You guys know better than I do.

[PaulTWinterton]

Welcome!

 

Water choke?  Never heard of it either. 

 

I'd recommend attacking any safety issues first, including being legal on the road (eg. turn signals).  Then mechanical, and lastly cosmetic.

 

Pick a topic and post (with pictures) to this forum and the wonderful people here can point you in the right direction almost always.

 

Until you are certain that there is no substantial rust, don't drive in mud, rain, sleat and snow.  You'll just add wet debris into the those hidden areas where rust lives.

 

Congratulations. You have just committed to a roller coaster ride of thrills and challenges.

[Koblenz]

WELCOME to the journey! The list will continue and the resources and support from here will follow.

 

I tackled the rust first.  There was more than I originally thought but, it was workable. So for me body and paint was number one.

 

From there I added some exterior candy and worked on suspension. Sways, shocks, springs and bushing.  My interior is last on the list.  No shortage of things you need to do and things ya gotta do.  To me its ALL a BLAST!! 

 

Glad to have you with us.  BTW,remember to use the SEARCH window.  Boatload of info there. Post often and add a pic for us stalkers!

WELCOME to the journey! The list will continue and the resources and support from here will follow.

 

I tackled the rust first.  There was more than I originally thought but, it was workable. So for me body and paint was number one.

 

From there I added some exterior candy and worked on suspension. Sways, shocks, springs and bushing.  My interior is last on the list.  No shortage of things you need to do and things ya gotta do.  To me its ALL a BLAST!! 

 

Glad to have you with us.  BTW,remember to use the SEARCH window.  Boatload of info there. Post often and add a pic for us stalkers!

 

My Weber has a water choke

Edited October 12, 2013 by Koblenz

[Napes]

Welcome, Brandon;  I know you say you're new to your car but if you're also new to this website I encourage you to acquaint yourself with the SEARCH function located in the upper right of this page.  In as few words as possible enter what you're looking for info on and hit the magnifying glass.  Usually a wealth of info will be at your finger tips. 

 

Good luck, and if you have an area about which you're unable to find the info you want just come back to this board and we'll do what we can to help you.  There's an untold wealth of knowledge on '02s here.

 

Bob Napier

[dbmw2002]

Well you have arrived, let me give a few tips on o2 electrical, lights and wipers are highly underrated. Disconect battery, grab a can of WD40 and a good small brass toothbrush, attack that fuse panel with WD and brush, clean shine and wipe er up, step one done. Now replace fuses cons and see what works, many many lighting issues will be the ground, figure it out or search & ask here, we all like answering new owners Qwestions, specialy if they include pics for us to drool on. This is all easy stuff, it gets better as u go......

[Mike Self]

 it's harder to turn over when hot.

If the starter spins slowly when the engine is hot, check the battery with a load tester to make sure it's up to snuff.  Then make sure the battery cables are clean and tightly fastened at both the battery end and the load end. If that's OK, your starter motor may be worn and/or on the way out.  If the rear armature bushing is loose in its housing (a common problem on OEM starters) it will cause considerable drag as it spins with the armature.  If you find this problem, drop me an e-mail and I'll send you a column I did on making a new bushing that cures the problem.

 

I suspect the "water choke" (which I've never heard of before this) is the source of the problem. How hard would it be to convert to an electric unit?

If the carb is a Solex, it's the original carb and has a choke mechanism that's turned off by the coolant as it warms up.  They didn't work very well when they were only a few years old.   You'd probably be better off installing an aftermarket Weber carb, which is a bolt-on for a '73, and can be had with water, electric or manual chokes. 

 

Another thing is electrical in general. Turns signals don't work, at all. No clicking noise or anything. No idea what that is, and I'd want to be able to give people less of an excuse for cutting me off. If the car has reverse lights, they don't work either, but I'm hoping that's just bulbs.

 

First thing to check on electrical problems are the fuses.  Remove 'em one at a time, clean both ends (and check to see if the end contacts are worn through) and replace if they're bad or worn, and then clean the brass contacts that hold the fuses.  Those fuses are notorious for causing electrical problems, especially on cars that haven't been driven for awhile. 

 

If fuse cleaning/replacing doesn't cure the electrical problems, let us know what still isn't working.

 

Windshield wipers work, but the controlling knob doesn't do anything; they only react to when I depress the washer stalk. 

On a '73 the dash knob only selects low and high speed.  You need to push the end of the turn signal stalk in to turn 'em on.  Pull the stalk towards you to activate the wash/wipe feature.

 

And welcome to the 2002 fraternity/sorority.

 

mike

[vinntagejoe]

"Allow Me To Introduce Myself"

 

what are you some kind of rapper? how about some photos of your ride? The standards would help.................sheesh

[Henryn02]

I think you might need a hazard switch to fix the turn signals.Good luck.

[willys]

that's no Rapper, that's the Rolling Stones

 

Jeff

[vinntagejoe]

Ok, then you forgot the "Please........allow me to introduce myself"

[willys]

allow me to re-introduce myself - Jay-Z 

[vinntagejoe]

heh heh heh

[Brandon Christ]

Hey everybody, thanks for the advice. Some of the fuses looks worn, but not blown, so I'll be going through those when I get some time. The box itself has minimal corrosion, but a good cleaning wouldn't hurt any.

 

As I've been driving it (put about 80-100 miles on it since my last post) it has started to run better and better. I'm guessing the PO kept it more as a lawn ornament than a driver, and it just needed a tank of gas through it and some running time to charge the battery. Asides a little grind in second, it runs pretty much fine now.

 

I'll be more than happy to post some pictures soon; a friend who happens to be a pro photographer has asked me to shoot it, which should happen Tuesday. Much better than the crap pictures I'd get with my phone, for sure.

 

Thanks for pointing out the search option, only one last question; the bolt pattern for the wheels is 4x100, correct? I have some awful-looking 3-series wheels on it now (came with the car), and considering the tires are basically shot, I'd like to get rid of them and get my hands on some basketweaves or something period-looking.

[John_in_VA]

...one last question; the bolt pattern for the wheels is 4x100, correct?

Correct.

[vinntagejoe]

where you located? I've got some real clean bottlecaps (with center caps) if you interested.